Just an hour from Paris, Brussels or London, the capital of Hauts-de-France has all the assets to seduce. Committed, friendly, seductive but not bombastic, Lille has managed to reinvent itself. The city has become the heart of a European metropolis, resolutely turned towards the future. Its heritage and its cultural agenda are the first appeals and once there, you are conquered by the bonhomie of its inhabitants and its delights based on hops and maroilles. And if you still hesitate, don't forget that Lille hosts its famous Braderie on the first weekend of September. A perfect opportunity to discover the northern city.
Bike ride and architectural pearls
Nowhere else is the little queen more famous than here. As soon as you arrive, don't hesitate to get on a bike. Lille is a paradise for bike lovers: no hills and many bike paths, not to mention the fact that you'll really get some local color! And if the weather doesn't allow it, opt for a good rain cape or for the metro. Lille is full of architectural gems that are revealed as soon as you arrive in Lille Europe, where the great signatures of contemporary architecture are represented: Rem Koolhas, Jean Nouvel or Christian de Portzamparc. This new district attracts architects from all over Europe. If your train arrives in Lille Flandres, only 500 meters from its contemporary neighbor, you will find a Haussmannian boulevard overlooking the Grand-Place... The Grand-Place is a nerve center and offers terraces, always crowded as soon as the first sunbeam appears. It would probably not have as much charm without the Vieille Bourse. It's a good place to stroll and discover the latest books at the Furet du Nord, one of the largest bookstores in Europe!
Flemish accents, beer and culinary specialties
The Flemish influence is very present. Wandering through the streets of Old Lille often gives the visitor the impression of having left France. Obligatory stopover: Meert, rue Esquermoise. The house is a confectionery that offers waffles filled with vanilla or speculoos. A waffle in hand, one imagines oneself in the cities of northern Europe... All the more easily as many Flemings come to Lille for the weekend
Going back up to the citadel, we stop at rue de la Monnaie in front of the Hospice Comtesse, legacy of the Counts of Flanders, which hosts temporary exhibitions. Going back down the rue d'Angleterre, we reach the quai du Wault. This small port reminds us that Lille was built on a marsh and that water was present everywhere. The Deûle still crosses the city and a walk along its banks, in the direction of the citadel, will be a relaxing stop for the whole family
The Flemish tradition is also in the plate and in the mug! Nationally known for its mussels and French fries, the North has fortunately many other specialties to offer. Beer, a regional heritage, is just as appreciated as on the other side of the border and goes very well with local dishes. After an aperitif on rue Solférino, the call of the belly will lead you to one of the estaminets of the city, in the Vieux-Lille (rue de Gand or on the Place aux Oignons) or on the outskirts of the Grand-Place. These small restaurants, of which only the North and Belgium have the secret, offer a warm setting and hearty dishes. A nice way to get your strength back after an intensive walk! As a starter, you can choose between grey shrimps or the famous maroilles pie! If the smell frightens you, the taste will blow you away! A Flemish carbonnade, a kind of beef bourguignon simmered in beer, will also leave you with delicious memories. Several dishes with unpronounceable names are intriguing: potjevleesch (white meat terrine in jelly) or waterzoï (a kind of fish or poultry stew served with vegetables). And for desserts, why not try the Ch'Tiramisu (with speculoos) and end up with the local digestive, the genever!
A city to discover
Coming to Lille is also to discover the other cities of the metropolis. The metro and the tramway offer the possibility to discover Roubaix, Tourcoing or Villeneuve d'Ascq in 20 to 45 minutes. Villeneuve is a huge student campus and home to the LaM, one of the largest museums of contemporary art and art brut in France. The LaM is easily accessible and exhibits a superb artistic background while giving the opportunity for a nice family walk, bike ride or horseback ride in the green lung of the metropolis: the Heron Park
Roubaix is also worth a visit. The textile tradition of the North is not only a past heritage: the city has understood this! The Manufacture des Flandres promotes the craft through workshops and, just next door, you can take the time to stroll through the fashion boutiques, which feature young designers who are causing a sensation in London or Paris! And then this stop will allow you to discover the jewel of the museums of the metropolis: La Piscine, museum of Art and Industry. This authentic 1930's swimming pool has been converted into a museum while keeping its pool and its cabins... A real trip in the Art Nouveau !
A legendary flea market
On the first weekend of September, put on a good pair of sneakers, take a backpack, and go in search of unsuspected treasures in a legendary flea market of the Hexagon! Two days and a night where Lille is in effervescence... Especially since this year, it is the big return of the event after three years of absence because of Covid-19. The mussels and French fries will obviously still please the tourists, always impressed by the legendary human warmth of the people of the North. Two million visitors in town, that always makes a big mess! Agoraphobes should refrain, death is envisaged at the end of three meters fifty. For the others, bargain hunters, revelers, lovers of sharing, La Braderie de Lille, it is only happiness. Be careful, think to withdraw money before entering the furnace! The distributors are quickly out of money. Like the gullets of the bradeux... An event literally not to be missed! In short, between culture, gastronomy and strolls at the Braderie, a weekend in Lille in September leaves little room for boredom
Smart info
When is it open? All year round. To best appreciate the architectural strolls in Old Lille and the bike rides, prefer the summer. The first weekend of September for the unmissable Braderie... To attend the 2022 edition, go to Hauts-de-France on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 September
How to get there. By plane (Lille-Lesquin airport is located 15 km south of Lille), by train (Lille-Flandres or Lille-Europe stations are 1 hour from Paris, 3 hours from Lyon and 4 hours 30 from Marseille), by bus or by car, everything is possible.
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